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Audi exits WEC to focus on Formula E

26 October 2016

At the end of this season Audi Motorsport will cease its involvement in the FIA WEC and 24 Hours of Le Mans to focus its efforts on Formula E.

Chairman of the Board of Management, Rupert Stadler, said: “We’re going to contest the race for the future on electric power. As our production cars are becoming increasingly electric, our motorsport cars, as Audi’s technological spearheads, have to even more so.”

The announcement follows lengthy rumours concerning the German marque leaving the World Endurance Championship, which was expected to be at the end of 2017 season. However Audi has confirmed it will leave at the end of 2016 season.

The German giant’s exit prompts a new chapter in its motorsport history as it prepares a factory backed Formula E effort for Season Four of the all-electric series.

“After 18 years in prototype racing that were exceptionally successful for Audi, it’s obviously extremely hard to leave,” said head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Audi Sport Team Joest shaped the WEC during this period like no other team. I would like to express my thanks to our squad, to Reinhold Joest and his team, to the drivers, partners and sponsors for this extremely successful cooperation. It’s been a great time!”